Ancient Beauty Secrets Of The Geisha

Since ancient times, the Geisha in Japan have been admired for not just their highly trained skills in the arts, but also for their beauty and porcelain skin. Many have wondered what the secret to their beauty is, while a lucky few have even managed to build their business empires inspired by these beauty rituals (Tatcha luxury skincare).

What is it that makes the Geisha so alluring and captivating? Well, we dug around a little and found a few clues as to why they are so beautiful. You’d be surprised to discover that some of these ingredients used in their beauty treatments can be found in your everyday life, while others are more exotic and require a more extensive hunt around Singapore.

Camellia Oil (Tsubaki Oil) A natural antioxidant that protects our skin from UV damage, Camellia Oil has been extensively cultivated for many centuries in Asia. It is obtained by cold pressing wild-harvested seeds of theCamelliaJaponicaflower, which is also known as the Tsubaki flower. Camellia Oil is high in oleic acid and this contributes to the regeneration of collagen and elastin. The thinness of the oil also allows it to easily penetrate to the deeper layers of our skin and work its magic.

Rice Water Contrary to popular belief, you do not get rice water from the water in which you’ve rinsed your rice. You need to boil your rice with extra water and then strain out the water after that – this is because the rice releases its natural properties into the water during the boiling process. This rice water is known to be anti-cancer and can be used as a facial toner as it helps to close the pores in your face. It also makes your skin smooth and glowy as it promotes cell growth and stimulates blood flow.

Green Tea Loaded with polyphenols that fight free radicals, green tea is used by the Geisha to keep their skin radiant and perfect. It isanti-inflammatory, which means it can soothe irritated skin – and flushes out toxins from your pores. Green tea also contributes to minimising the effects of premature aging and gives your complexion more moisture and suppleness.

Facial Oil Blotting Papers While facial oil blotting papers can commonly be found in pharmacies around Singapore, the one we refer to is the oil blotting paper known as “aburatorigami” in Japan. They have been used by the Geisha since the past few centuries to refresh their look in between performances. Aburatorigami are actually gold-speckled papers containing the Abaca leaf that were organic (free of powder and fragrance) and which were used to absorb the oils in the faces. While you probably won’t be able to find this in Singapore, try searching for it if you’re in Japan or on the Sephora USA website!

Nightingale Droppings Nope – we’re not kidding. Since the 17th century, the geisha have been using bird droppings as a beauty treatment because it has multiple skin benefits. The poop contains a natural compound called guanine that reduces and reverses the effects of damaged DNA cells by quickening the healing process in our body. The results? Smoother and clearer skin. In modern day, fans of nightingale excrement facial treatments include celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Tom Cruise.